Chapter 624

Anthony went quiet for a sec.

"Yo, you still there?" Juniper asked.

"Did you force yourself on all your exes?" Anthony shot back.

"Nah, I've only had one, and he was a total jerk." Juniper fiddled with the rabbit's ears.

"I'm a jerk too. Stay away."

"You're not like that. I can tell, you're solid."

"If you're so good at reading people, how'd you end up with a jerk?"

"I was young and dumb. Now I know better 'cause of that jerk. Anyway, I think you're pretty cool, boyfriend material."

"You need a shrink. Don't call me again. Bye."

"Anthony... so cold. But kinda intriguing," Juniper, who'd been down in the dumps after getting cheated on, finally found something to latch onto. She wasn't giving up that easy.

Juniper thought, 'Whatever, he probably needs time to get used to having a girlfriend. I'll hit him up tonight.'

"Juniper." Saffron's fake-sweet voice cut in.

"Get lost!" Juniper snapped.

Saffron walked in with a tray.

"Didn't you hear me? Get out!" Juniper chucked the rabbit plushie at her.

Saffron sneered, "I'm pregnant, you better watch it."

"With all the crap you've pulled, it's a miracle if you even give birth."

Saffron's eyebrows knitted, "You're cursing my baby, Juniper, you're so nasty."

"I can't be bothered to curse you, it'd dirty my mouth. Just a 'friendly' reminder."

"Are you mad, Juniper? Your boyfriend of three years came back and I snatched him up, you must be fuming."

"Fuming? Nah, thanks for taking out the trash for me. But trash is hard to swallow, don't choke."

"You're just jealous!" Saffron spat.

"Jealous of what? That you'll get cheated on too? Saffron, mark my words, you'll catch him cheating one day..."

"Whatever, Douglas and I will be super happy, just wait."

"Yeah, I'll wait and see, I'll keep an eye on you two losers," Juniper shot back with a cold grin.

Hearing footsteps outside, Saffron suddenly threw the tray, smashing plates and bowls everywhere.

"Juniper, Juniper, I'm pregnant, how could you push me, Juniper..." Saffron wailed, sitting on the floor.

"Saffron," Douglas rushed in, helping her up and glaring at Juniper, "How could you do this to a pregnant woman, are you nuts?"

Juniper had seen this act before. With a cold smile, she said, "Saffron, keep this up and you'll miscarry for sure."

"You even curse her." Douglas accused.

"Forget it, Douglas, it's my fault. Juniper has every reason to hate me. Juniper, if you're mad, take it out on me, don't hurt the baby, okay? It's innocent," Saffron cried, clutching her belly.

"I really pity your kid, having a two-faced mom like you, poor thing." Juniper said sarcastically.

"You-" Douglas clenched his fist.

"What? Wanna hit me? Go ahead, try it." Juniper dared.

"No, Douglas, Juniper's already pathetic enough, hitting up bars for random guys. Let's just forgive her. Juniper, you should get checked out, bars are sketchy, you might catch something and pass it to us..." Saffron said.

"Saffron, shut it. You think everyone's as dirty as you? You and Douglas should get checked, don't spread your germs." Juniper sneered.

"Juniper, how can you be so nasty? Saffron's having her first time." Douglas shot back.

"First time? Hah! She wasn't even a virgin in high school. Saffron, where'd you get the repair job? Pretty good work." Juniper mocked.

Saffron turned red, "You-"

Worried Juniper would spill more dirt, Saffron quickly cried, "My stomach hurts, help, help me back to my room."

"Alright, let's not sink to her level." Douglas helped Saffron up, worried. If the baby didn't make it, he'd lose out on a few billion dollars.

"Juniper, if anything happens to Saffron's kid, you're dead." He warned.

"Get out." Juniper replied coldly.

Juniper had the servants clean up the mess and took a nap. When she woke up, it was already evening.

Dusk, the loneliest time, brought a sense of solitude to her heart.

In this house, she was the odd one out.

Juniper felt a lump in her throat, but she wouldn't let herself be weak. She had to find something to do.

She quickly got up and sent Anthony's number to her hacker friend, "Find me his address."

In no time, the address came back.

Juniper dressed up carefully, looking pure and beautiful like a gentle goddess.

Anthony should like this type, she smiled at herself in the mirror, satisfied, 'Anthony should like this type.'

Hilton Hotel Restaurant.

Anthony stared at the table, lost in thought.

"Sorry I'm late, have you been waiting long?" A hand gently patted him.

A beautiful woman with a ponytail sat across from him, holding an LV bag and some documents, looking all business.

"No, I just got here," Anthony smiled.

"The traffic here is a nightmare, I was stuck for half an hour." Hera Lawson, Anthony's old classmate, took off her scarf and downed a big glass of water.

"Why'd you suddenly come back?"

"Got an academic conference on mental health. Here for a day, flying back tomorrow."

"That's rough."

"No choice, doctors are always swamped. Don't think psychiatrists have it easy. We don't do surgeries, but there's still a ton to study."

"How's Nora?"

Three months ago, Anthony had sent Nora to Hera's mental health clinic abroad for treatment, and stayed with her for a few months. He'd only been back for a week.

"She's better, but the past trauma did a number on her. Conservatively, it'll take at least another year."

"Okay."

"Leave her to me, don't worry. I'll try to minimize her meds, focus on counseling."

"I trust you." Anthony nodded.

He'd met Hera while studying abroad; a fellow student at the time, she was now the top psychiatrist in the school. After graduation, she worked at Novaria Mental Health Clinic, so when something happened to Nora, Anthony sent her there.

"Don't just worry about her, look at yourself. You're looking thinner than a week ago, and you don't look well. Haven't been eating?"

"No appetite."

"That's not good. If you keep this up, I'm worried you'll get depression. You need to stay positive and upbeat. Don't just focus on work, maybe get a cheerful girlfriend."